<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-021188
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030909
<FILING-DATE>20030911
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
<CIK>0001051470
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4899
<IRS-NUMBER>760470458
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>510 BERING DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
<PHONE>7135703000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>510 BERING DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FERENBACH CARL
<CIK>0001021316
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>IL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16441
<FILM-NUMBER>03892620
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
<STREET2>510 BERING DR STE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
<PHONE>7135703070
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
<STREET2>510 BERING DR STE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bob47752cf.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik><issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001021316</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FERENBACH CARL</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BERKSHIRE PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>ONE BOSTON PLACE, SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.28</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>404827</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common 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Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>37.25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-09</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-09-09</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>13559.322</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1350000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By affiliated investment entities</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>6.25% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>395000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>36.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-10</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-09-10</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>535593.22</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>955000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By affiliated investment entities</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options to Purchase Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.28</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0.00</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2002-07-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-07-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The shares are beneficially owned by or through certain affiliated investment entities. The Reporting Person disclaims any beneficial ownership of any shares in which he does not have a pecuniary interest.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents shares of 12 3/4% Senior Exchangeable Preferred Stock to be paid to certain affiliated investment entities as a dividend.  The dividend is being paid to record holders as of September 1, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The 6.25% Cummulative Convertible Preferred Stock is exercisable immediately.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The 6.25% Cummulative Convertible Preferred Stock does not have an expiration date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Carl Ferenbach</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SUBMISSION>
